[Zeke]

Engineered will do fine in that environment. Go with the price. If sanded in place is within bounds, you can be more creative with design. Otherwise, less mess with manufactured and possibly a better more durable finish.

Last hand laid floor that large I saw installed was on site for a week beforehand and installed (nailed) with a 3/8ths gap slap down the center of the room and held open with stakes. Each day thereafter the installer would stop by and relieve the pressure reinstalling the stakes. After a week of that, they sanded, stained, sealed and finished over a 3 day period. Of course, the gap disappeared as planned.

Too much monkey business.